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VK7AX > NEWS 13.06.10 05:51l 459 Lines 23296 Bytes #999 (0) @ WW
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Subj: VK7 Regional News Broadcast for 13 June 2010
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From: VK7AX@VK7AX.#ULV.TAS.AUS.OC
To : NEWS@WW
VK7 REGIONAL NEWS BROADCAST
FOR SUNDAY 13 JUNE 2010
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VK7 EVENTS CALENDAR
A summary of the events across VK7 over the coming months:
REAST – June 16, 23 & 30 – ATV Experimenter's Group – Queen's Domain Clubrooms starts around 7:30pm.
http://reast.asn.au/atv/
REAST – June 22-24 – REAST Operation of VK100WIA from the Historic 1912 Wireless Station atop the Queen's Domain Hobart.
REAST and VK100WIA
CCARC – June 27 – Presentation on the HP8924 RF test set and RF tools software package with Vernon VK7VF.
http://www.my-x15.net/ccarc
REAST – July 7 – Constructors Night – Optical Transceiver starts 8pm in the Queen's Domain Clubrooms. BYO Soldering Iron, solder & side cutters.
http://reast.asn.au/events.php#constructornight
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Northern News
Northern Tasmanian Amateur Radio Club
www.ntarc.net
To kick off this weeks broadcast, we have an excellent report on the BBQ meeting from Bill VK7MX:
"Last Wednesday night's NTARC BBQ at the Mt Barrow Interpretation Centre was another classic club event, although the dire weather forecast and the absence of many members interstate or overseas for winter kept the numbers attending low.
As events transpired, while the low pressure trough forecast for much of the State arrived in the late afternoon, it seemed content to drop most of its nasties to the West and on the Central Plateau. Max VK7KY's dismal report of snow falling at Cradle Mountain and at Wilmot had a few of the attendees very watchful as they wound their way up Mt Barrow. Indeed, on arrival the view from Mt Barrow back towards the Western Tiers looked anything but inviting. Fortunately though, it's only impact at the site was a rising cold wind. Even that abated around 10.00 pm and the night was very calm thereafter.
Our immediate creature comforts were looked after by Peter VK7PL and XYL Lois, who were first on site. Lois quickly displayed her bushy heritage by conjuring up a fire using some admittedly damp kindling. Help was soon at hand with the arrival of VK7JJ and then VK7MX, both equipped with miniature chain saws only slightly larger than might have featured in the first travel narrative of Jonathan Swift. We ended up with nicely trimmed firewood sufficient for the night and next morning and even then, we were able to leave some for the next users of the centre.
There can be no doubting the advantages of having fully equipped camping trucks along on club events.
Our numbers were increased by the arrival of Peter VK7KPC and XYL Kay, then finally by the arrival of Mark VK7KMA and his son, bringing the final tally to 10, plus the mandatory 4 dogs. One bonus of our small number was the fact that for the first time in living memory, some of Kay's famous jelly cakes remained uneaten next morning! Our sympathy is extended to Al VK7AN, who again missed out on his jelly cake ration but rest assured Al, we did toast your absence ceremonially as the cake tin first appeared. Actually, you also missed out on Lois's Apple and Walnut slice, which was another worthy addition to the normal BBQ fare.
Thursday morning dawned bright and clear for the overnighters but still admittedly very cold, as VK7MX discovered when he emptied the water from the dogs' drinking bowl prior to departure, only to have it shatter on contact with the roadway. All made it safely down the mountain, although Lois and Peter VK7PL reported encountering snow on Wednesday evening at one point. Nobody else encountered it, leaving one wag to question whether any mushrooms had featured on the VK7PL BBQ.
All in all a very enjoyable night, as the Mt Barrow occasions always seem to be. We are already looking forward to next year's event and hope you can all join us then."
Finally, NTARC congratulates our Treasurer Ann, VK7FYBG and Tony, our broadcast, repeater and WICEN co-ordinator, on the safe arrival of their second child, Samuel. Well done to both and we are sure Tabatha is now really looking forward to having her little brother home to play with. She has been telling us about him for months.
NTARC also congratulates Lyn, VK7FLYN, the voice of IRLP node 6700, on her birthday tomorrow and we all trust the day is a memorable one. Dont forget to collect that "special" QSL card from Service Tasmania, Lyn.
Karl VK7HDX has been lamenting the typical suburban noise pollution on the lower HF bands, and has been pondering what to do about it. Short of running up & down the street turning off everyone else's meter box main switches, the buzzing, hissing and general misery of working the HF bands in our populated areas is very hard to escape. But there are some things that you can do about it. Karl has decided to concentrate his efforts on the 10 metre band where the noise and interference is at its weakest. Another great advantage of the higher HF bands is more gain for a given size antenna, a concept not lost on Karl, who has lined up a quite manageable 4 element yagi to put up over the shack.
Lastly for this week, Joe VK7JG is looking for a DIN sized UHF CB radio, for example the Electrophone brand of UHF CBs. If anyone has something suitable, Joe would appreciate hearing from you.
Thanks from
(Jason VK7ZJA, NTARC Secretary)
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NORTH WEST News
Cradle Coast Amateur Radio Club (CCARC)
CCARC News
http://www.my-x15.net/ccarc
The next meeting will be on the 27th of June, and will feature Vernon VK7VF giving a talk on using the HP8924 RF test set, and afterwards, the RF tools software package.
Prospective amateurs and amateurs wishing to upgrade can contact the learning facilitator Keith Winkler VK7KW who can help you along the path to a new licence. Contact details are available on the Cradle Coast Amateur Radio Club website, which is easily found by a Google search for CCARC Tasmania
Regards from
(David, VK7DC, Secretary, CCARC)
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North West Tasmania Amateur Television Group
http://www2.vk7ax.id.au/atvgroup/
eQSO Chat Room
A reminder that the club now has a chat room available on eQSO courtesy VK7AX.
The Server and chat rooms can be found on eQSO under the Call sign of VK7AX.
Two Rooms are available at the moment, "101English" and "ATV & SSTV" Chat.
An eQSO RF gateway with a link to the VK7RTV 2M. Repeater is permanently connected to the 101ENGLISH Room, which effectively means all 2M. VK7RTV repeater bothway traffic is available when connected to the 101ENGLISH Chat room of VK7AX. It is suggested that NON RF type traffic use the "ATV & SSTV" Chat Room where it is more private and clients need not worry about being connected to a repeater network.
Amateurs interested in eQSO can download the software which is free and available at http://www.eqso.org Alternatively the link can be found on the Club's Web Page.
Registration of the software is the same procedure as EchoLink in that applicants need to verify that they are licensed amateurs by submitting a copy of their current Lic. to the eQSO Admin Team. Once the Station is verified, a user password and Registration Key is returned by email within 24 hours.
Interested persons may care to note that the Club's nightly Amateur Radio Broadcasts and Podcasts, including the WIA National & VK7 Regional news can all be heard by connecting to this eQSO Chat Room.
Amateur Radio Licence Assessments and Training
Persons in the N/West Area of VK7 interested in Training and Assessments for all classes of Amateur Radio are advised that the Club can provide all these requirements and in addition provision of Facilitators via the Radio and Electronics School if candidates so desire.
For more information regarding these facilities, please contact the Club's Learning Organizer Tony VK7AX, or the Club. Contact details can be found on the Club Web Site or the WIA site under VK7 Clubs.,
73's until next time
(Tony VK7AX, News Officer – NWTATVG)
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Southern News
Radio and Electronics Association of Southern Tasmania
http://reast.asn.au/
VK100WIA REAST Operation
We are looking for operators to cover the 22-24 June 2010 when REAST will be operating the VK100WIA callsign from the historic 1912 Coast Wireless Station.
If you are interested in helping out then please contact Justin VK7TW ASAP via email VK7TW(AT)wia.org.au or 0439 016 622.
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July Presentation
Constructor's Night – Optical Transceivers
We will be putting together simple light transmitters and receivers during the night and then testing and talking to each other via red light.
Please bring along your soldering irons, some solder and side cutters for a fun night of construction. Don't worry if you don't own a soldering iron there will be some spare irons, etc just in case you don't have one.
Kits will be available for between $10 and $20 to cover the component cost and everything is in the kit including a 9v battery!
Please let Justin VK7TW know before the 23rd June if you will coming along so we can have enough kits available on the night.
This occurs on Wednesday 7th July 2010 starting at 8:00pm.
See you there.
http://reast.asn.au/events.php#constructornight
(73, Justin, VK7TW)
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Special General Meeting
Please note there will be the quickest Special General Meeting in the history of the club just before the Constructor's night to present the audited 2009 accounts by the Treasurer.
Members who have supplied their email address will be receiving notification in the near future.
(REAST Committee)
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Licence Examinations
If you are interested in sitting an amateur radio assessment and this can be for any of the assessments then contact Reg VK7KK on 0417 391 607, or email on regemm(AT)ozemail.com.au.
(73, Reg VK7KK, REAST Education Officer and Assessor)
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ATV Experimenters Night
Despite the Mercury Clock saying it was 2 degrees when Justin VK7TW went through Hobart to the ATV night there was a great turn-out.
We started the night with a show and tell of the goodies from the WIA AGM Weekend and a sneak preview of the PCB that forms the basis of our constructor's night project in July then onto the first screening of the first cut of the WIA AGM weekend video for our ATV viewers.
This video consisted of a photo montage of the complete weekend along with descriptive titling and the Saturday night dinner speeches by Chris Chapman and Dick Smith and the ISS contact thanks to VK3DN and the WIA. The video is an hour long and following some additional titling and background music being added it will be available from the ATV library in the very near future.
We were then treated in clubrooms to Ben VK7BEN's new tool – an iPad which he showed-off to the thronging masses!
A hot cup of tea finished off the night followed by chipping the ice and snow off the vehicles (only joking!) before departing into the wintery night and home.
We get underway with our ATV night next Wednesday night at around 7:30pm with some more videos from the 1983 Heard Island DXPedition.
Hope to see you along.
http://reast.asn.au/events.php#ATVnights
(73, Justin, VK7TW)
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Satellite News
China President Hu Jintao Visits HO-68 Operation
Michael Chen, BD5RV/1 reported that on May 31 he, along with BA1DU, BG1TTA, BA1EO, BG1HOB accompanied Chinese President Hu Jintao as he visited the amateur satellite station set up in the China Science and Technology Museum in Beijing.
Several children were operating HO68 while the president was watching. Michael reported, "He encouraged them for further activities and confirmed the positive effects of amateur satellites."
AMSAT-China Web Page: http://www.camsat.cn
(Sourced from Michael Chen, BD5RV/1 via the AMSAT News Service)
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EVENT NEWS
GippsTech 2010 July 10 & 11
Peter VK3PF reminds us that GippsTech 2010 is just a month away and this is what you can look forward to:
Friday evening 1830 onwards at the Morwell Hotel/Motel (aka the Top Pub) Bistro. Pay your own way for an evening meal. In true amateur spirit some locals have been collecting "Shop a Dockets", which offer a second meal at $8. Find a local with a docket plus someone to go and order a standard price meal (typical Bistro prices $20-$30, depending upon your main meal choice), use the docket for the second meal and then settle up between yourselves!
Saturday daytime at Monash University Gippsland Campus, Churchill. Registration from around 0930 - we should have on-line registration working soon, so it should just mean picking up your registration package. Registration is $25 and hopefully the urn will be hot. Lectures starting at 1000. Finish by 1800, with 2 tea/coffee breaks plus BBQ lunch available at $15 per person - pay on registration.
Saturday evening 1900 for 1930 (TBC) Conference Dinner at the Morwell Club. Cost expected to be $40.
Sunday - more talks at Churchill, 0930 start (TBC) until 1300, followed by BBQ lunch if booked ($15 per person). No formal sessions after lunch which gives people a chance to hit the road and for sellers & the club to start to clean up.
Talks on offer so far include:
A Practical Approach to Microwave Filters, Ted Garnett VK1BL
A Practical Approach to Microwave Transverters - A 10 GHz Example, Ted Garnett VK1BL
Using the Softrock SDR receiver in EME, Chris Skeer VK5MC
Crossing Bass Strait on Red Light (474 THz), Rex Moncur VK7MO
The VK9NA VHF/UHF DXpedition, VK3KH, VK3XPD, VK4UH
'Waveguide calculations related to ionospheric propagation of ultra low
frequency signals, Dale Hughes VK1DSH
'Equipment and experiences while constructing an station for the new 137 kHz band, Dale Hughes VK1DSH
A Backscatter Radar for Amateur Use, Andrew Martin VK3OE
Using the not so obvious features of the VK3UM EME Calculator to refine your system, including a more refined examination of Moon and sky noise, Doug McArthur VK3UM
10 GHz base station experiment, Russell Lemke VK3ZQB & Colin Hutchesson VK5DK
Universal GPS to PLL 10 MHz Interface, Neil Sandford VK2EI
Cheap 10 GHz to 1 GHz Converter for Spectrum Analysers, Neil Sandford VK2EI
GLOBAL HOPSKOTCH: The Bistatic Backscatter Chirp Radar: analysis of early ionospheric propagation results and prospects for future applications, Roger Harrison VK2ZRH
In addition, running in the breaks, it is likely that at least one retail outlet will have some equipment on display and for sale, whilst stocks last. There are usually at least a couple of VHF/UHF/microwave goodies stalls, sales of GippsTech Proceedings, possibly the WIA Bookshop. All to be confirmed.
You can download the registration form from the VK3BEZ website and the link can be found on the email and internet editions of this broadcast.
www.vk3bez.org
Please submit your registration ASAP. We cannot guarantee any meals will be available for any registrations lodged after Friday 2 July.
(Peter VK3PF via the VK-VHF Mailing List)
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EMCOMM News
Soccer World Cup Special
Thanks to Al, VK7AN for passing on the latest South African Radio League Hamnet Emergency Communication Bulletin. This bulletin is dedicated to the Soccer World Cup and their involvement which started on Thursday the 10th of June.
A Hamnet station will be in operation from the QTH of ZS6BUU for the entire month that the soccer world cup is taking place. Should ZS6BUU not be in his shack for any reason, an alternative station will take your call!
Hamnet will operate in the following modes.
HF - 7.060 MHz and 3.760 MHz during any day or evening.
If necessary we can also operate on 14.300 MHz in the 20 m band.
If you happen to be at the World Cup then there is a 2m local station on the 145.650MHz Johannesburg repeater. Please remember this repeater has an 88.5 tone burst.
The special event station is also available on Echolink under the callsign ZS6BUU - HAMNET SWC
We hope to hear from you.
(Francois Botha - ZS6BUU SARL HamNet Bulletin via Al, VK7AN)
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Technology News
Making better use of the spectrum
RadioComms e-zine reports the release of a new digital radio system that is designed to make more efficient use of the spectrum will use a 6.25 kHz bandwidth and have increased range.
Called NXDN, its common air interface (CAI) was the result of a joint development between Kenwood and Icom. It is aimed at providing a migration path for land mobile radio users and low-end public safety communications systems to move towards multi-vendor standards. It also opens the platform to vendors, allowing them to develop communications products and interfaced OEM equipment.
Developed as a response to the need for greater spectrum efficiency as frequency allocations run out and the US encourages that two-way radio moves to 6.25 kHz, the system maintains the basic architecture of analog FM radios but uses frequency division multiple access (FDMA) and the digital modulation technique of four-level frequency shift keying (FSK).
Under FDMA the spectrum is divided into workable bandwidths for signal transmission. Digital technology allows this bandwidth to be 6.25 kHz, although it will also operate at 12.5 kHz.
Being similar to analog digital gives greater flexibility when migrating to a new platform, as some equipment can be reused in the new system and the NXDN equipment can operate in both analog and digital modes and in shared operation.
NXDN is claimed to have improved coverage, good audio quality, good security and calling features, including a large number of operational options. Using forward error correction, the modulated signal can be recovered when corrupted by signal degradation giving improved coverage and penetration.
Other features of the platform include:
· Individual and group calling;
· Emergency functions;
· Radio stun and kill;
· Data messaging;
· GPS;
· Trunking and roaming;
· Priority monitoring and registration.
Both Kenwood and Icom have released equipment using the NXDN protocol. The Kenwood range is called NEXEDGE and lcom is producing IDAS. Both ranges include portables, mobiles and repeater units covering the UHF and VHF commercial communications bands (VHF 136 to 174 MHz and UHF 400 to 512 MHz).
http://ht.ly/1PWgW
(Radio Comms E-Zine)
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Web & Email Edition Extra Bits!!
Reminder - 160m phone VK/Trans-Tasman Contest is on Saturday 12 June 8:00 UTC - 14:00 UTC – Rules from http://home.iprimus.com.au/vktasman/
Also the 160m CW and Digital Trans-Tasman contest is on 26 June, in just 2 weeks time! Details from http://homepages.paradise.net.nz/robglassey/TT_CW_dig/index.html
(Rob, ZL3AKM)
Don't get burnt: Choice urges home solar panel caution http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2010/06/11/2924982.htm
Southgate ARC's report on Canberra ISS Contact
http://www.southgatearc.org/news/may2010/canberra_ariss_contact.htm
Capetown Senior Grandpa a 'threat to US security' (Thanks to Bob VK7ZL)
http://www.timeslive.co.za/sundaytimes/article489476.ece/Grandpa-a-threat-to-US-security
The Dark Art of Tires at Le Mans
http://blogs.timeslive.co.za/wheeldeal/2010/06/10/the-dark-art-of-tyres-at-le-mans/
CutePDF – Freeware PDF convertor
http://www.cutepdf.com/Products/CutePDF/writer.asp
Interesting 10GHz Project Site
http://www.g4hjw.metahusky.net/
Interesting AR Project Site
http://www.webalice.it/hotwater/OurProjects.htm
Need Rhymes for that Poem??
http://www.rhymes.net/
Japanese Spacecraft Successfully Deploys First Solar Sail in Space
http://inhabitat.com/2010/06/10/japanese-spacecraft-successfully-deploys-first-solar-sail-in-space/
Taliban Webmaster: We've Been Hacked!
http://www.wired.com/dangerroom/2010/06/taliban-webmaster-weve-been-hacked/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed:+wired/index+%28Wired:+Index+3+%28Top+Stories+2%29%29&utm_content=Google+Reader
iPhone 4 Durable ??
http://www.appleinsider.com/articles/10/06/10/shattered_iphone_4_photographed_to_challenge_apples_durability_claims.html
The best free tools to design a website
http://www.masternewmedia.org/wireframing-and-website-prototyping-best-free-tools-to-design-your-website/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed:+Robin-Good-Latest-News+%28Robin+Good%27s+Latest+News%29&utm_content=Google+Reader/#ixzz0qYW8T5aM
Controls will compound the advantages of LEDs in street lighting
http://www.ledsmagazine.com/news/7/5/24
Do you have some interesting internet sites you have some across in the last week – send them in to justingc(AT)ozemail.com.au
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VK7 Regional News Group Email Addresses
Post message: vk7regionalnews(AT)yahoogroups.com
Subscribe: vk7regionalnews-subscribe(AT)yahoogroups.com
Unsubscribe: vk7regionalnews-unsubscribe(AT)yahoogroups.com
List owner: vk7regionalnews-owner(AT)yahoogroups.com
VK7 Virtual BPL Tours
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pdcY0Eetvsw - Mt Nelson
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1gsxpya3CnQ - North Hobart
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G7DfdxjRkpU - RU ready for BPL?
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If you are interested in becoming an amateur radio operator or upgrading your licence then we suggest you contact your local club for details and/or take a look at what the Radio and Electronics School has to offer. They have a range of courses that can be delivered through a variety of methods.
They can be found at: www.radioelectronicschool.com
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Finally today, a reminder to those people rostered for next week's broadcasts:
Newsreader: VK7TW
80m: VK7JGD
40m: VK7RO
20m: VK7IL
10m: VK7ZGK
UHF CB: VK7ZCR
HF CB: VK7TED
Thanks to all people and organisations who assisted with this broadcast.
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THAT CONCLUDES OUR VK7 REGIONAL NEWS BROADCAST FOR THIS WEEK.
YOU HAVE BEEN LISTENING TO OR JUST MISSED VK7WI. NEXT WEEK THE NATIONAL WIA NEWS CAN BE HEARD AT 0900 FOLLOWED BY THE VK7 REGIONAL NEWS AT 0930 HOURS.
DETAILS TO SEND NEWS FOR THIS BROADCAST CAN BE FOUND AT REAST.ASN.AU AND THE DEADLINE FOR ITEMS IS 21:00 ON FRIDAY PRIOR TO THE SUNDAY OF THE BROADCAST.
VK7 Regional Broadcast & News Coordinator
Justin Giles-Clark, VK7TW
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- NEWS POSTING TO PACKET -
Courtesy Tony VK7AX VK7AX(AT)VK7AX.#ULV.TAS.AUS.OC
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